BOMBS RAIN ON BERLIN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 217, 12 September 1940, Page 7

BOMBS RAIN ON BERLIN

Given Taste Of Own Medicine SMASHING R.A.F. RAID Important Buildings Hit In Heart Of Capita/ (United Press Association.—Copyright.— Eec. noon.) LONDON, September 11. While London was receiving its nightly dose of German air brutality, Berlin according to neutral correspondents, was given a strong taste of its own medicine, when the R.A.F. penetrated the capitals defences and bombed central Berlin. A thermite bomb crashed through the roof of the Reichstag and smouldered in the hall before it was extinguished. The Reichstag is not used at present and is still undergoing reconstruction after the 1933 fire. Other bombs fell in this district, which contains Government offices. Incendiary bombs peppered the area around the United States Embassy, near which a 500-pounder fell. Time Bomb At U.S. Embassy. The Berlin radio stated that a delayed action bomb in the grounds of the United States Embassy in Berlin cannot be removed and will destroy not only the Embassy, but other important buildings if it explodes. The police have closed several streets in Berlin because of fears of time bombs. A high explosive bomb dropped near the Ministry of the Interior, smashing the ground floor windows in the building occupied by the American News Service. A heavy bomb landed in the centre of the Avenue of Splendour, which is Hitler's particujar pride. An official message says the R.A.F. last night hit Potsdam station, one of the main line termini. Other Objectives Bombed. The Air Ministry stated that besides Potsdam station, the R.A.F. last night bombed Bremen, Wilhelmshafen and vast concentrations at docks and harbours on the French, Belgian and Dutch coasts and also gun emplacements at Cap Gris Nez, railway targets at Duisberg and Brussels, aerodromes in Germany and German-occupied territory. Four R.A.F. 'planes have not returned.

The Air Ministry News Service says the R.A.F. repeatedly hit Potsdam station, Berlin, with heavy bombs and several hundred incendiaries. The pilots of all machines claimed direct hits on the station and yards. Several "planes attacked by gliding through the anti-aircraft barrage. Fires broke out as showers of incendiary bombs fell. One fire was particularly large, and there were several smaller ones. The raiders left for home after releasing all their bombs. German Version of Attack. A German High Command communique states: "The enemy bombed various localities in North France, Belgium and northern Germany. Little damage was caused. A few enemy* 'planes succeeded in reaching Berlin and! dropping bombs there. "Numerous fires broke out in the residential and business quarters. In the centre of the town two hospitals were hit. A few streets had to be temporarily evacuated in the diplomatic quarter owing to the danger of the collapse of buildings. One bomb fell on the Reichstag building and another on the Academy of Art. Five civilians were killed and several injured. The security and auxiliary services' energetic action, together with self-protection by members of the population, prevented numerous incendiary bombs from doing greater damage. The German news agency admits that a 151b incendiary bomb fell 10ft from Goebbels' residence in Berlin, tearing a deep hole in the garden. This time the extent of the damage in the centre of Berlin is so obvious that the German news agency has been compelled to give some details of the raid. The agency states that many fires were started and much damage was caused to hospitals, hotels Government buildings and to business and residential quarters. Works of art were destroyed. In several cases the walls of buildings have been pushed in. Whole streets have had to be evacuated. The agency adds that there Were five deaths and several people were injured. An official German communique says that bombs struck an art academy in the heart of the city, the premises of the German "Engineers' Union, the Hedwigs Hospital and residential and business property. No mention is made in the German communique of damage to the Potsdam station. The communique concludes: "The Germans did not want this war. England is now getting the war she wanted. She is now feeling the might of the German sword."